Why We All Need More Vitamin D
We include links to products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we earn a small commission.
Our bodies make nearly 90% of the vitamin D it needs, but this can only happen if your skin gets enough direct UV light from sunshine. The other 10% we get from food or supplements.
With people in isolation and having spent more time indoors in the last year or so than ever, vitamin D deficiency is becoming a problem. Not getting enough vitamin D can have awful effects on your health and have a big impact on your day to day life. We have quite a lot of personal experience with vitamin deficiency here at Secret Whispers HQ, so we will be sharing some of our personal experiences with it on today’s blog.
Health benefits of vitamin D
Builds strong bones
Lack of vitamin D can lead to Osteomalacia, a condition where the bones become weak and are more likely to fracture. Upping your vitamin D helps to remineralize bone structures, making them stronger.
Vitamin D can also help prevent Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia = poor bone structure built osteoporosis = Bone breaking down.
Healthy brain function
Vitamin D is great for improving cognitive function and brain processing speeds, there are also links between vitamin D deficiency and dementia. A common symptom of vitamin D deficiency is brain fog, low mood and fatigue.
Protect against gum disease
Low vitamin D levels are linked to gum disease and tooth loss.
Healthy heart
Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is linked to heart disease. Over 70% of patients in one study undergoing investigation for narrowing arteries had vitamin D deficiency and there was a 32% higher instance of coronary artery disease in those patients with the lowest vitamin D levels.
How Julie discovered the importance of vitamin D
“I never truly understood the importance of Vitamin D until I had to learn the hard way. Unfortunately, this is how many come to understand and appreciate just how important Vitamin D is.
It started in December 2016. The constant fatigue, brain fog and 'depression'. I use the word depression but I knew deep down that I was not depressed. It was just this constant low down energy I had from morning to night. Everything was a real effort. I felt tearful, exhausted and completely lost. It was a very lonely place to be.
Me being me, I kept trying to fight it. Exercise more, eat healthier, drink more water - but nothing was helping. I even started to wonder if it was something more sinister as I knew this feeling was not normal. Not normal for me. I eventually went to see my doctor in February. I could no longer cope with this awful 'depression' , the constant brain fog. I literally could not make a decision. The simplest tasks were overwhelming. I felt anxious and my body was always aching.
The very first thing my doctor did was offer me antidepressants! I was actually not shocked as I expected this to be offered to me. I politely told him that I knew I was not actually depressed but that something else was off. I asked him to run blood tests and I had a long list of bloods I wanted ran. Yes, Google can be your friend at times.
Included in my blood tests was Vitamin D testing. Within a few days I got a call to come in as my Vitamin D levels were low. The doctor confirmed that I was severely low in Vitamin D and suggested I take a prescribed amount of these tablets to replenish my levels. I was so relieved. I finally knew what was wrong. Why had I left it so long? Suffered needlessly! I did more research and found that the prescribed amount would not even touch the sides of what I needed.
I then found out that in order for Vitamin D to be properly absorbed you need to take it with magnesium. I also found that it's best absorbed as a spray via the soft tissue in your mouth. I started taking this highly recommended Vitamin D spray from Betteryou. (this is an affiliate link). Each spray delivers 3000IU. I started taking 2 sprays every day until I started to feel normal again. I cannot stress enough just how debilitating you feel when you do not have enough Vitamin D, let alone be severely depleted.
I also ensured that I was having at least an hour outside, regardless of the weather and rolling up my sleeves. Yes, it is the winter months but bare arms are actually doable. So now from the month of September my husband, sons and I have our Vitamin D every Sunday night. We do this until May. Yes, you can take a week's worth in one go!
So we all either take it after a magnesium bath or after we have rubbed magnesium spray on the soles of our feet and then take the spray 15 minutes later. My husband and I take 7 sprays and the children get 4. I personally feel that we need as adults 3000 IU per day. The recommended amount is roughly 1000 IU - You will need to research yourself and find what amount you feel is right for you. Though, I highly stress not to go above this amount (3,000 IU).”
Foods high in vitamin D
You can get plenty of vitamin D through a varied and healthy diet. Check out these 5 foods below that have the highest vitamin D content.
Salmon - A great fatty fish. Wild salmon can be 4 times higher in vitamin D (can contain up to 988 IU of Vitamin D per 100g serving).
Sardines and herrings - Not a fan of sardines? Try to put them in an oven tray with salt, pepper, garlic and lemon juice and bake in the oven until they are really crispy.
Cod Liver Oil - This has about 448 IU per teaspoon. A great way to get your Vitamin D if you are not a fish lover.
Canned Tuna - There is around 270 IU of Vitamin D in a 100-gram serving. Though, do be aware that canned tuna contains methylmercury (a toxin found in many types of fish).
Egg Yolks - A typical egg yolk contains around 37 IU of Vitamin D. Try and choose from hens who are raised outside and if they are given Vitamin D enriched feed. These hens egg yolks can contain up to 6,000 IU of vitamin D per yolk!
The link between vitamin D and the pelvic floor
The results showed 82% of women had vitamin D levels that were considered deficient! Overall, increased vitamin D levels were associated with a lower risk of pelvic floor disorders. Vitamin D insufficiency affects up to 80% of reproductive-age women. The pelvic floor is reliant on the delicate relationships between musculoskeletal connections to pelvic bones that support the abdominal cavity and pelvic viscera.
The Vitamin D receptor has also been identified in the detrusor wall, so if you're deficient it may impact your bladder function. The detrusor muscle, is a smooth muscle found in the wall of the bladder. The detrusor muscle remains relaxed to allow the bladder to store urine, and contracts during urination to release urine.
Final thoughts...
The only way to know for certain that you are deficient in vitamin D is to have a blood test. If anything in today's blog sounded familiar book an appointment with you GP where they can test you for vitamin D, other vitamins and health conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
We hope you enjoyed this blog, why not check out 5 Astonishing Health Benefits Of Iodine and The Surprising Health Benefits Of An Epsom Salt Bath
You can also join our fabulous womens only private Facebook Group
Fancy a FREEBIE? Download our FREE guide The easy way to get a stronger pelvic floor
Any questions? Just email us at support@secretwhispers.co.uk and we will get straight back to you.
References
What is Vitamin D and why is it so important? | Holland & Barrett (hollandandbarrett.com)
#secretwhispers #dontignorethepelvicfloor #kegel #kegelweights #pelvicfloordumbbell #PelvicFloorChat #losetheleak #vitamind #vitamins #oilyfish #brainfog
